Optogenetic magnetic resonance imaging

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are systems and methods involving the use of magnetic resonance imaging and optogenetic neural stimulation. Aspects of the disclosure include modifying a target neural cell population in a first region of a brain to express light-responsive molecules. Using a light pulse, the light-responsive molecules in the target neural cell population are stimulated. Multiple regions of the brain are scanned via magnetic resonance imaging. The scans allow for observation of a neural reaction in response to the stimulation in at least one of the multiple regions of the brain.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/425,925, filed Feb. 6, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/008,214, filed Jan. 27, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,615,789, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/298,413, filed Jun. 6, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,271,674, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/847,653, filed Mar. 20, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,834,546, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/299,727, filed Nov. 18, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,696,722, which application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/416,143 filed on Nov. 22, 2010; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/425,925, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/008,214, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/298,413, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/847,653, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/299,727, and U.S. Patent Application No. 61/416,143 and its Appendix, including the references cited therein, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

This invention was made with Government support under contract EB008738 awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The Government has certain rights in the invention.

BACKGROUND

Blood oxygenation level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD fMRI) is a widely used technology for non-invasive whole brain imaging. BOLD signals reflect complex changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption (CMRO₂) following neuronal activity. However, the neural circuits that trigger BOLD signals are not completely understood, which may confound fMRI interpretation. Candidate circuit elements for triggering various kinds of BOLD signals include excitatory neurons, mixed neuronal populations, astroglia, and axonal tracts or fibers of passage. Understanding the neural circuits that give rise to BOLD signals may provide a way to diagnose neurological disorders that impact specific circuits, as well as to screen for therapeutic agents to treat such disorders.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed to apparatuses and methods involving the use of magnetic resonance imaging. Aspects of the disclosure include modifying a target neural cell population in a first region of a brain to express light-responsive molecules. Using a light pulse, the light-responsive molecules in the target neural cell population are stimulated. Multiple regions of the brain are scanned via magnetic resonance imaging. The scans allow for observation of a neural reaction in response to the stimulation in at least one of the multiple regions of the brain. In response to the observations, a determination is made whether neural projection in a second region of the brain are connected to at least some of the cells in the modified target cell population in the first region of the brain.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to exciting and/or inhibiting neural cells in vivo using light and mapping of the neural response, by employing magnetic resonance imaging and methods relating to the optogenetic modification of cells. In a more specific embodiment, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signals is used to map neural responses.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to integrating high-field fMRI output with optogenetic stimulation of cells. A light-activated, light-responsive molecule, for example an opsin, is introduced into specifically targeted cell types and circuit elements using cell type-specific promoters to allow millisecond scale targeted activity modulation in vivo. An opsin is light-activated and regulates the transmembrane conductance of a cell that expresses the opsin. The opsin can be a single component microbial light-activated conductance regulator. The genetic material of a desired opsin is modified to include cell type-specific promoters as well as promoters allowing for optimal expression in the animal. The opsin can be modified to express in mammalian cells, for example.

Other aspects of the present disclosure are directed to apparatuses and methods involving the modification of a target neural cell population in a first region of a brain to express light-responsive molecules. Following modification, the light-responsive molecules are stimulated in the target neural cell population by using a light pulse. While the target neural cell population is being stimulated, multiple regions of the brain are scanned using an fMRI machine. The fMRI scans are used to observe neural reaction in response to the stimulation in at least one of the multiple regions of the brain and to determine therefrom the network communication characteristics relating to, but is not necessarily the same as, the anatomical neural projection pattern.

Other aspects of the present disclosure are directed to apparatuses and methods involving verifying BOLD responses. The method includes modifying a target neural cell population to express light-responsive molecules in a first region of a brain. The light-responsive molecules excite the target cell population in response to light. The light-responsive molecules in the target neural cell population are stimulated using a light pulse. At least the first region of the brain is scanned with an fMRI machine during light stimulation of the target neural cell population. Based at least in part on a BOLD signal response in the target neural cell population due to light stimulation, a BOLD signal response is assessed from an electronic stimulation in the target neural cell population.

In some embodiments, modifying neural cells may comprise delivering a light-responsive molecule (e.g., ChR2) to neural cells of a first brain region. The neural cells of the first brain region may be stimulated by positioning an optical fiber at, and applying light pulses to, the first brain region. Multiple regions of the brain may be scanned by acquiring magnetic resonance images of first and second brain regions to identify the neural cells of the second brain region that are connected to the neural cells of the first brain region.

In other embodiments, the neural cells of the first brain region may be stimulated by positioning optical fiber at, and applying light pulses to, the second brain region. Multiple regions of the brain may be scanned by acquiring magnetic resonance images of first and second brain regions to identify the neural cells of the first brain region that are connected to the neural cells of the second brain region.

In some embodiments, the first brain region may be in the motor cortex and the second brain region may be in the thalamus, or vice versa. In other variations, the first brain region may be the anterior or the posterior thalamus. In some embodiments, the first brain region may be in the thalamus and the second brain region may be in the somatosensory cortex. Scanning multiple regions of the brain may comprise acquiring magnetic resonance images of bilateral regions of the somatosensory cortex and/or motor cortex.

Various embodiments, relating to and/or using such methodology and apparatuses, can be appreciated by the skilled artisan, particularly in view of the figures and/or the following discussion.

The above overview is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the present disclosure. While the disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure including aspects defined in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various example embodiments may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A shows a brain subjected to an optogenetic fMRI (“ofMRI”), in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B shows the response of the excited cells in FIG. 1A, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A shows a brain subjected to an ofMRI, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B shows the response of the excited cells in FIG. 2A, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A shows an fMRI of neurons modified to react to light, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B shows the response of the cells in FIG. 3A, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows the BOLD and ofMRI-HRF (haemo-dynamic) responses of a target cell population, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. ofMRI haemodynamic response (averaged across activated voxels in motor cortex) during 20 s (top) and 30 s (bottom) optical stimuli (Left) is shown and also depicted are mean over stimulus repetitions; baseline, mean pre-stimulation signal (Right). Top panels, n=3; bottom panels, n=8.

FIG. 5, panels a-d, depict one variation of a system and method for delivering a viral vector to a neuronal population for optogenetic stimulation and fMRI analysis. FIG. 5, panel a, shows transduced cell, represented by triangles, and the light and location (1 . . . 9) of coronal slices, indicated by dots. FIG. 5, panel b, shows confocal images of ChR2-EYFP expression in M1 (left); higher magnification (right). FIG. 5, panel c, shows optrode recordings during 473 nm optical stimulation (20 Hz/15 ms pulse width); spiking is significantly elevated (error bar indicates ±s.d., two-sample t-test; *** indicates P<0.001; n=3). “Pre” indicates spike frequency pre-stimulation; “Stim” indicates spike frequency during stimulation; “Post” indicates spike frequency post-stimulation. FIG. 5, panel d, shows BOLD activation observed with AAV5-CaMKIIα::ChR2-EYFP but not with saline injection (P<0.001; asterisk, optical stimulation).

FIG. 6, panels a-i, depict nonlocal mapping of the casual role of cells defined by location and genetic identify, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6, panel a, schematically depicts a variation of a system and method for AAV5-CaMKIIα::ChR2-EYFP injection and optical stimulation in Ml. Slices in “c”: ‘1’ and ‘2.’ FIG. 6, panel b, shows fluorescence/bright-field images of ChR2-EYFP in thalamus (left); the confocal image (right) shows that expression is limited to axons. FIG. 6, panel c, depicts slices ‘1’ and ‘2’ that were taken at points ‘1’ and ‘2’ of FIG. 3A and shows thalamic ofMRI during

M1 optical stimulation (top); superimposed on the Paxinos atlas (bottom). FIG. 6, panel d, are plots that summarize ofMRI-HRF results. FIG. 6, panel e, schematically depicts a M1 optrode and a thalamic electrode. FIG. 6, panel f, shows thalamic spiking that follows M1 optical stimulation; delay consistent with BOLD. FIG. 6, panel g, depicts typical M1 and thalamus spikes that arise with M1 optical excitation. FIG. 6, panel h, are histograms that summarize M1 and thalamus spiking profiles (error bar indicates ±s.d., two-sample t-test; *** indicates P<0.001; n=5). FIG. 6, panel I, depicts spike-frequency time histograms.

FIG. 7, panels a-d, depict control of cells defined by location, genetic identity, and wiring during ofMRI, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7, panel a, schematically depicts a variation of a system and method for M1 injection of AAV5-CaMKIIα::ChR2-EYFP and optical stimulation of the thalamus. Coronal slices shown in FIG. 7, panel c, marked as ‘1 . . . 6’ and ‘7 . . . 12’. FIG. 7, panel b, shows a ChR2 expression pattern confirming expression in cortical neurons (left) and cortico-thalamic projections (right; see also Supplementary FIG. 5 of “Global and local fMRI signals driven by neurons defined optogenetically by type and wiring” Nature, Vol. 465, 10 June 2010, pp, 788-792). FIG. 7, panel c, shows BOLD ofMRI data obtained in thalamus (above) and cortex (below). FIG. 7, panel d, depicts plots of ofMRI-HRF for cortical (grey) and thalamic (black) BOLD signals elicited by optical stimulation of cortico-thalamic fibers in thalamus. Both ofMRI-HRFs ramp slowly by comparison with intracortical results in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8, panels a-f, show recruitment of bilateral cortices by the anterior thalamus, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8, panel a, schematically depicts a variation of a system and method for thalamic injection of AAV5-CaMKIIα::ChR2-EYFP and posterior/anterior optical stimulation. Coronal slices marked ‘A1. . . A12’ and ‘B1 . . . B12’. FIG. 8, panel b, depicts an image where fluorescence is overlaid onto bright-field (left) and confocal image (right) illustrating transduction in the thalamus (left) and cortical projections in the internal and external capsule (right). FIG. 8, panel c, depicts scans of posterior thalamus stimulation-evoked ofMRI signal in the ipsilateral thalamus and somatosensory cortex. FIG. 8, panel d, is a plot of ofMRI-HRFs. Excited volumes: 5.5±1.3 mm³ (thalamus); 8.6±2.5 mm³ (somatosensory cortex) (n=3). FIG. 8, panel e, depicts scans of anterior thalamus stimulation-evoked ofMRI signal in the ipsilateral thalamus and bilateral motor cortex. FIG. 8, panel f, is a plot of ofMRI-HRFs. Excited volumes: 1.5 mm3 (thalamus); 10.1 mm3 (ipsilateral cortex); 3.7 mm3 (contralateral cortex).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Aspects of the present disclosure may be more completely understood in consideration of the detailed description of various embodiments of the present disclosure that follows in connection with the accompanying drawings. This description and the various embodiments are presented by way of the Examples and in “Global and local fMRI signals driven by neurons defined optogenetically by type and wiring,” Nature, Vol. 465, 10 June 2010, pp, 788-792, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The embodiments and specific applications discussed herein may be implemented in connection with one or the above described aspects, embodiments and implementations, as well as those shown in the figures and described below. Reference may also be made to the following background publications: in U.S. Published patent application Ser. No. 2010/0190229, entitled “System for Optical Stimulation of Target Cells” to Zhang et al.; U.S. Published patent application Ser. No. 2010/0145418, also entitled “System for Optical Stimulation of Target Cells” to Zhang et al.; and U.S. Published patent application Ser. No. 2007/0261127, entitled “System for Optical Stimulation of Target Cells” to Boyden et al. These applications form part of the provisional patent document and are all hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. As is apparent from these publications, numerous opsins can be used in mammalian cells in vivo and in vitro for provide optical stimulation and control of target cells. For example, when ChR2 is introduced into a cell, light activation of the ChR2 channelrhodopsin results in excitation and firing of the cell. In instances when NpHR is introduced into a cell, light activation of the NpHR opsin results in inhibition of the cell. These and other aspects of the disclosures of the above references patent applications may be useful in implementing various aspects of the present disclosure.

In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a viral vector including a light sensitive molecule is injected in cells in the primary motor cortex of an animal. The viral vector infects a chosen cell type, for example cortical neurons, while not infecting surrounding cells of different cell types. A cannula is implanted into the animal's brain to allow access for both the injection of the virus and for an optical fiber to provide light to the infected cells. The cannula, optical fiber, and any other accessories are fabricated from magnetic resonance-compatible materials in order to minimize susceptibility artifact during MRI scanning. Light pulses are provided by the optical fiber to the cells that have been infected in the motor cortex. The wave length of the light is chosen based on the light-sensitive molecule introduced into the cell population. Light pulses are delivered to the neurons expressing the light-sensitive molecules. In response, an optically evoked BOLD signal is observed in the cortical grey matter at the virus injection and optical stimulation site. The BOLD signal is observed in fMRI slices of the motor cortex. Additional fMRI slices capture downstream responses during optical stimulation of the cortical neurons. The additional fMRI slices are centered on the thalamus, for example. The stimulation of the infected cells in the motor cortex results in cortico-thalamic axonal projection fibers being observed. A reaction is observed in the thalamus despite the fact that no cells in the thalamus have been infected with light sensitive molecules.

BOLD fMRI is a technology for non-invasive, whole-brain imaging. Bold signals reflect complex and incompletely understood changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF), Cerebral blood volume (CBV), and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption (CMRO2) following neuronal activity. For a variety of reasons, it is useful and important to understand what kinds of activity are capable of triggering BOLD responses.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the local stimulation of the cortex during fMRI is used to determine if unidirectionally triggered BOLD responses are being observed and measured. In this embodiment, antidromic drive found in electrical stimulation is eliminated, and allows for global causal connectivity mapping. Robust thalamic BOLD signals are observed in response to cortex stimulation. The properties of the thalamic response are distinct from the response in the cortex. For example, the thalamic response is delayed in time as compared to the response observed in the cortex.

In certain more specific embodiments, fMRI scanning occurs several days (e.g., in some instances, at least 10 days) after virus injection. fMRI signals are acquired in 0.5 mm coronal slices. To assess the neural response at the site of the injection, the slices are centered around the motor cortex. To assess the neural response at areas remote from the motor cortex 0.5 mm slices are acquired in the area of interest. A 473 nm light pulse is delivered by an optical fiber at a rate of 20 Hz, with a 15 ms pulse width to the targeted cells expressing the light-responsive molecules.

In another embodiment consistent with the present disclosure, a viral vector including a light sensitive molecule is injected in cells in the primary motor cortex of an animal. The viral vector delivers a light-responsive molecule to a chosen cell type, for example cortical neurons, while not infecting surrounding cells of different cell types. A cannula is implanted at a second location remote from the cortical neurons expressing the light-responsive molecule. The viral vector is injection into the motor cortex, and the cannula is implanted in the thalamus, for example. Providing light to the thalamus allows for confirmation of the functional projection patterns in the brain. The light-responsive molecules trigger spikes in illuminated photosensitive axons that both drive optical synaptic output and back-propagate through the axon to some of the stimulated cells. This permits optical fMRI mapping during selective control of the motor cortical cells that project to the thalamus. Robust BOLD signals are observed both locally in the thalamus and in the motor cortex. This result is consistent with the recruitment of the topologically targeted cells both locally and distally. It also demonstrates that stimulation of the axons of the neurons expressing the light-responsive molecules is sufficient to elicit BOLD responses in remote areas. This also illustrates the feasibility of in vivo mapping of the global impact of cells defined not only by anatomical location of the body of the cell and the genetic identity, but also the connection topology. The projections of the infected cells can be mapped based on the reaction of the axons to light stimulation at areas remote from the body of the cell.

In certain embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, a viral vector carrying a light-responsive molecule is injected into cells in the thalamus. A cannula is implanted in order to deliver light to the target cell population expressing the light-responsive molecules in the thalamus. Light is delivered to the target cells. fMRI scans of the thalamus as well as other areas of the brain allow functional mapping of the thalamic projections to the motor cortex. Scanning other regions of the brain as well can show responses in the sensory cortex or other parts of the brain as well. Because motor control and planning involve bilateral coordination, mapping of thalamic projections is more likely to involve both ipsilateral and contralateral pathways. The use of light stimulation of thalamic nuclei allows isolation of functional mapping of thalamocortical projections without also showing cortical-thalamic projections.

In certain more specific embodiments, it is shown that optical stimulation of posterior thalamic nuclei resulted in a strong BOLD response, both at the site of stimulation and in the posterior ipsilateral somatosensory cortex. Optically stimulating excitory cell bodies and fibers in anterior thalamic nuclei resulted in BOLD response at the site of stimulation and also ipsilateral and contralateral cortical BOLD responses consistent with the bilaterality of anterior thalamocortical nuclei involvement in motor control and coordination.

Turning to FIG. 1A, a section of a brain 100 is depicted. The brain 100 includes two regions, separated from each other, with cell populations of interest. The first target cell population 102 is modified to include a light-responsive molecule. The second cell population 110 is connected to the first target cell population 102 through a neural projection 116. An fMRI compatible cannula 106 is implanted and an optical fiber 108 is delivered through the cannula 106 to the target cell population 102. The optical fiber 108 provides light 104 to the light-responsive molecules in the target cell population 102. In response to the light delivery, the light-responsive molecules in the target cell population 102 are excited and the excitation spreads down the neural projection 116 to the cell population 110 in a second region of the brain. The progress of the excitation of the target cell population 102 and the remote cell population 110 is captured using an fMRI machine 112. The fMRI machine scans the brain 100 at designated areas. The results 114 of the fMRI scan show evidence of excitation in the remote cell population 110.

In certain embodiments the target cell population 102 is injected with a virus at the same cite as the cannula. The virus injection includes a viral vector virus to deliver a light-responsive molecule, such as channelrhodopsin (ChR2) to the target cell population. The viral vector includes promoters to drive expression of the ChR2 in the target cell population. The promoters can be chosen based on the target cell population 102 so that expression of ChR2 is limited to the desired cell type. For example, in adult rats an adeno-associated viral vector AAV5-CaMKIIα::ChR2(H134R)-EYFP can be used to drive expression of a ChR2 specifically in Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα(CaMKIIα)-expressing principal cortical neurons, but not in neighboring GABAergic or glial cells. In embodiments where ChR2 is the light-responsive molecule, the optical fiber 108 provides a 473 nm light pulse at 20 Hz. This has been found to reliably drive local neuronal firing in vivo.

In more particular embodiments viral injection occurred at least 10 days before the fMRI scans were taken.

In certain embodiments the target cell population 102 is located in the motor cortex (M1) and the remote cell population 110 is located in the thalamus.

The resultant images 114 shows the scan results for two slices, 1 and 2, in the thalamus. The images 114 depict the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signals elicited in response to excitation of the target cell population 102 with light.

Turning to FIG. 1B, the responses of the target cell population 102 and the remote cell population 110 are depicted. The top graph 120 shows a recording of the electrical response to light stimulation at the location of the target cell population 122 (labeled M1 recording) and the electrical response of the remote cell population 124 (labeled thalamus recording) in response to light stimulation of the target cell population 102. The excitation is shown to have occurred at the target cell population 102 approximately 8 ms before it occurs at the remote cell population 110. The reading depicted in graph 120 was obtained by introducing electrodes at M1 and at the thalamus to verify that the target cell population 102 and the remote cell population 110 respond to the light 104.

Graph 130 depicts the BOLD signal change in response to the light stimulation both at the cortex (the location of the target cell population 102) and at the thalamus (the location of the remote cell population 110). The cortex response 132 initiates earlier than the thalamus response 134, consistent with the delay found in graph 120.

Turning to FIG. 2A, a method consistent with an embodiment of the present disclosure is depicted. A virus containing a sequence for expressing a light-responsive molecule, such as ChR2, is injected into target cell population 202. A cannula 206 is implanted in a second region of the brain so that optical fiber 208 can provide light 204 to remote cell population 210. The light at the remote location excites the axon projections 216 of the cells 202 that connect to the cells in the remote location. The axon projections 218 of the remote cell population 210 also potentially connect the two cell populations. This results in a BOLD response both at the target cells 202 and the remote cells 210. This also permits functional mapping of the cells in the two areas. An MRI machine 212 is used to collect fMRI scans 220 showing a BOLD response both at the injection site (slices 1-6) and at the site of stimulation (slices 7-12).

In certain more specific embodiments, the virus injection site is in the cortex and the light stimulation is provided to the thalamus. FIG. 2B depicts the percentage of BOLD signal change in response to the stimulation. As shown in the figure, the time delay between the response at the thalamus and the motor cortex is lessened. In addition, the BOLD response ramps up more slowly in both the thalamus and the cortex in this embodiment. The fMRI scans 220, along with the BOLD responses 232 and 234 of FIG. 2B indicate that the axon projections 218 were not activated and the remote cell population 210 was not excited by the light, while the axon projection 216 was excited.

Consistent with an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 3A depicts a scan series wherein a viral vector is injected into the thalamus 310. The viral vector is cell type specific and introduces a light-responsive molecule into specific cells of the thalamus. A cannula provides access to the injection site for an optical fiber. The optical fiber is used to excite the thalamic nuclei that have been infected with the light-responsive molecules. The optical fiber is used to provide light to either posterior thalamic nuclei (a) or anterior thalamic nuclei (b). Projection 318 extends from group A to cells within a remote cell population 302. Projection 316 extends from group B in the thalamic nuclei to remote cell population 302. In certain specific embodiments, remote cell population 302 is located in the motor cortex. Scanning the brain during stimulation by fMRI 312 results in coronal slices 320 being obtained when the posterior thalamic nuclei are excited and slices 322 when the anterior thalamic nuclei are excited.

FIG. 3B depicts graphs of the percentage of signal change in the BOLD response. Graph 330 corresponds to excitation of the posterior thalamus. Graph 332 corresponds to excitation of the anterior thalamus. Coronal slices 322 and Graph 332 indicate that excitation of anterior thalamic nuclei results in excitation in the thalamus (at the site light is provided), and both the ipsilateral cortex and the contralateral cortex. This is consistent with the anterior thalamus being significant in motor control and coordination.

The above embodiments can be used individually or together to provide functional mapping of the brain. In certain embodiments both the motor cortex and the thalamus are infected with light-responsive molecules that respond to different wavelengths of light. This allows for forward and backward mapping of the connections between cells in the cortex and the thalamus. Further, light of one wavelength can be provided at a site in the thalamus to excite the axon projections of the target cell population in the motor cortex to provide a map of the connections between the target cell population and cells in the thalamus. Light of a second wavelength can be used to stimulate thalamic cells and determine functional connections of the thalamus cells based on the axon projections of the thalamic cells. The thalamic cells infected with the light-responsive molecules responsive to a second wavelength of light can be the same cells that were activated by the motor cortex infected cells. In an alternative embodiment the thalamic cells infected can be different cells.

Certain embodiments consistent with the present disclosure can be useful for determining the progression of a degenerative disease. fMRI scans obtained over time can be compared to determine the presence of deteriorating function. The fMRI scans can also be used to determine if new connections are being made in response to damage to previous connections.

In certain embodiments the fMRI scans can be used to determine the effectiveness of a drug. For example, fMRI scans can be taken before and after administration of a drug intended to alter the functional responsive of a target cell population. The scans can be compared to determine whether the drug has produced the intended result, and if not, the dose of the drug can be adjusted based on the observations of the fMRI scans.

In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the results of the fMRI scans are used to confirm the trigger of the BOLD response depicted in the fMRI slices. In such embodiments, light pulses are delivered to targeted neurons. The BOLD signals from a fMRI scan of the neurons, after they have been infected with a light-responsive molecule while a light pulse is being delivered to the neurons, is compared to a fMRI scan of the same neurons prior to infection with the light pulse being delivered. In such instances no detectable BOLD signal could be elicited from the neurons prior to infection. However, after infection a robust BOLD signal was observed in response to the light pulse. Further, the BOLD dynamics observed by optically driving the cell population expressing the light-responsive molecule match the dynamics of conventional stimulus-evoked BOLD-fMRI. In particular, as depicted in FIG. 4, the optogenetic fMRI haemodynamic response function (ofMRI-HRF) signal onset occurred after 3 seconds but within 6 seconds of stimulus onset Likewise, offset was reflected by a drop in BOLD signal contrast beginning within 6 seconds and returning to baseline in approximately 20 seconds after optical stimulation. The pronounced post-stimulus undershoot observed during systemic somatosensory stimulation in humans and animals was observed in ofMRI-HRFs as well. All of these dynamic properties derived from driving a defined, specific cell population, correspond closely to previous measurements on conventional sensory-evoked BOLD.

In various embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, neurons are infected with light-responsive molecules as discussed with respect to FIGS. 1A, 2A, and 3A. The activation of the light-responsive molecules can be used to determine the correlation between neuron firing and observed responses for a variety of neural scanning devices or procedures. The scanning includes, but is not limited to: MRI, computed tomography (CT), electroencephalography (EEG), and positron emission tomography (PET).

In certain embodiments more than one type of a light-responsive molecule is introduced into the brain. The light-responsive molecule can be one of several opsins and channelrhodopsins including, but not limited to, VChRl, optoXRs, SFOs, and ChR2 for excitation/modulation of cell in response to specific wavelengths of light, and NpHR, BR, AR, and GtR3 for inhibition of cells in response to specific wavelengths of light. In certain embodiments, the light-responsive molecule is introduced into the brain by a viral vector (such as an AAV) encoding the light-responsive molecule.

EXAMPLES

Despite a rapidly-growing scientific and clinical brain imaging literature based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD)' signals, it remains controversial whether BOLD signals in a particular region can be caused by activation of local excitatory neurons. This difficult question is central to the interpretation and utility of BOLD, with major significance for fMRI studies in basic research and clinical applications. Using a novel integrated technology unifying optogenetic control of inputs with high-field fMRI signal readouts, we show here that specific stimulation of local CaMKIIn-expressing excitatory neurons, either in the neocortex or thalamus, elicits positive BOLD signals at the stimulus location with classical kinetics. We also show that optogenetic fMRI (ofMRI) allows visualization of the causal effects of specific cell types defined not only by genetic identity and cell body location, but also by axonal projection target. Finally, we show that ofMRI within the living and intact mammalian brain reveals BOLD signals in downstream targets distant from the stimulus, indicating that this approach can be used to map the global effects of controlling a local cell population In this respect, unlike both conventional fMRI studies based on correlations and fMRI with electrical stimulation that will also directly drive afferent and nearby axons, this ofMRI approach provides causal information about the global circuits recruited by defined local neuronal activity patterns. Together these findings provide an empirical foundation for the widely-used fMRI BOLD signal, and the features of ofMRI define a potent tool that may be suitable for functional circuit analysis as well as global phenotyping of dysfunctional circuitry.

Blood oxygenation level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD fMRI) is a widely used technology for non-invasive whole brain imaging. BOLD signals reflect complex and incompletely understood changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption (CMR0₂) following neuronal activity. Candidate circuit elements for triggering various kinds of BOLD signals include excitatory neurons, mixed neuronal populations, astroglia, and axonal tracts or fibres of passage. Importantly, it is not clear which kinds of activity are capable of triggering BOLD responses, placing limitations on interpretation for both clinical and scientific applications. For example, it is sometimes assumed that positive BOLD signals can be triggered by increased activity of local excitatory neurons, but this remains to be shown empirically, a challenge that seriously confounds fMRI interpretation. Moreover, the use of MRI-compatible electrodes for local stimulation, although of pioneering significance, will nevertheless drive all local excitatory, inhibitory, and modulatory cell types, as well as antidromically drive non-local cells that happen to have axons within the stimulated region, thereby confounding functional circuit mapping using BOLD. We sought to address these challenges by integrating high-field fMRI output with optogenetic stimulation, in which single-component microbial light-activated transmembrane conductance regulators are introduced into specifically targeted cell types and circuit elements” using cell type-specific promoters to allow millisecond-scale targeted activity modulation in vivo.

Materials and Methods

Virus-Mediated Opsin Expression

In adult rats, the primary motor cortex (M1) was injected with the adeno-associated viral vector AAVS-CaMKIIα::ChR2(H134R)-EYFP to drive expression of a channelrhodopsin (ChR2) specifically in Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II α (CaMKIIα)-expressing principal cortical neurons, but not in GABAergic or glial cells. The pAAV-CaMKIIα-hChR2(H134R)-EYFP plasmid was designed and constructed by standard methods and packaged as AAVS. The pAAV-CaMKIIα-ChR2(H134R)-EYFP plasmid was constructed by cloning CaMKIIα-ChR2(H134R)-EYFP into an AAV backbone using MluI and EcoRI restriction sites. The recombinant AAV vectors were serotyped with AAVS coat proteins and packaged by the viral vector core at the University of North Carolina; titers were 2×10¹² particles/mL for both viruses. The virus was stereotaxically injected and cannulas placed at the locations where optical stimulation was planned. Concentrated virus was delivered using a 10-μl syringe and 34-gauge needle; volume and flow rate (0.1 μl min⁻¹) were controlled by injection pump. Maps and clones are available at www.optogenetics.org.

Female adult (>10 weeks old) Fischer and Sprague-Dawley (250-350 g) rats were the subjects; animal husbandry and all aspects of experimental manipulation were in strict accord with guidelines from the National Institute of Health and have been approved by members of the Stanford Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Rats were anaesthetized using 1.5% isoflurane (for surgeries longer than 1 hr) or i.p. injection (90 mg/kg ketamine and 5mg/kg xylazine). The top of the animal's head was shaved, cleaned with 70% ethanol and betadine and then positioned in the stereotactic frame. Ophthalmic ointment was applied, a midline scalp incision was made, and small craniotomies were performed using a drill mounted on the frame. Four types of surgeries were conducted: I) viral injection (1 μl/site) and cannula (1.5 mm projection) placement in MI (+2.7 mm AP, +3.0 mm ML right hemisphere, two injections at −2.0 and −2.5 mm DV); II) 4 viral injections across cortex (1: +5. 2 mm AP, +2.0 mm ML right hemisphere, one 2 μl injection at -3.0 DV; 2: +3.2 mm AP, +3.5 mm ML right hemisphere, 3 injections each 0.7 μl at -3.5 mm, −3.0 mm, and −2.5 mm DV; 3: +2.7 mm AP; +0.5 mm ML right hemisphere; 2 injections 1 μleach at −3.0 mm and −2.5 mm DV; 4: −0.3 mm AP; +3.0 mm ML right hemisphere; 2 injections 1 μleach at −2.5 mm and −2.0 mm DV; and the cannula (6.5 mm projection) was placed in ventral thalamus at the border with ZI (−4.3 mm AP; +2 mm ML right hemisphere; −6.5 mm DV); III) viral injection (1 μl/site) and cannula (5.25 mm projection) placement in thalamus (+2.7 mm AP, +3.0 mm ML right hemisphere, two injections at −5.25 and −5.75 mm DV). IV) Doublefloxed inverted-open reading frame (DIO) ChR2-EYFP was injected stereotactically into the motor cortex (2.0 mm AP; 1.42 mm ML, two injections at −1.25 mm and −1.75 mm DV) of 5-10-week-old transgenic mice expressing Crerecombinase in fast-spiking parvalbumin expressing GAB Aergic interneurons (PV::Cre).

Concentrated virus was delivered using a 10 μl syringe and a thin 34 gauge metal needle; injection volume and flow rate (0.1 μl/min) were controlled with an injection pump. After the final injection, the needle was left in place for 5 additional minutes and then slowly withdrawn. An MRI compatible cannula fiber guide (8IC313GPKXXC) was inserted through the craniotomy. One layer of adhesive cement followed by cranioplastic cement was used to secure the fiber guide system to the skull. After 10 min, the scalp was sealed using tissue adhesive. The animal was kept on a heating pad during recovery from anesthesia. Buprenorphine (0.03 mg/kg) was given subcutaneously following the surgical procedure to minimize discomfort. A dummy cannula (8IC312DCSPCC) was inserted to keep the fiber guide patent.

To avoid scanning animals with damage associated with the cannula implantation, detailed anatomical MRI scans were performed to check for tissue damage. In cases where damage near the cannula was detected in the T2 weighted high-resolution anatomical images, animals were rejected and not used in experiments. Moreover, animals used for fMRI studies were examined post-mortem for local invasion and for gliosis, using DAPI and GFAP staining. GFAP is a sensitive marker for gliosis and can report changes in local glial number, glial activation, and inflammation. In all subjects used for fMRI, we did not see evidence for cellular invasion or for gliotic changes (See Supplementary FIG. 1 of “Global and local fMRI signals driven by neurons defined optogenetically by type and wiring,” Nature, Vol. 465, 10 June 2010, pp, 788-792) beyond the expected 30-50 μm from the cannula, indicating that the boundaries of the BOLD responses are not determined by local damage or gliosis under these conditions.

Opsin Expression Validation

To validate specificity, sensitivity and spatial distribution of opsin expression, brain slices were prepared for optical microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Coronal sections (40-μm thick) were cut on a freezing microtome and stored in cryoprotectant (25% glycerol, 30% ethylene glycol, in PBS) at 4° C. until processed for immunohistochemistry. Confocal fluorescence images were acquired on a scanning laser microscope using a 20X/0.70NA or a 40X/1.25NA oil immersion objective, while large field images of entire slices were collected on a Leica MZ16FA stereomicroscope.

Immunohistochemistry

To verify the phenotype of cells, rodents were anaesthetized with 65 mg/kg sodium pentobarbital and transcardially perfused with ice-cold 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) in PBS (pH 7.4). Brains were fixed overnight in 4% PFA and then equilibrated in 30% sucrose in PBS. 40 μm-thick coronal sections were cut on a freezing microtome and stored in cryoprotectant (25% glycerol, 30% ethylene glycol, in PBS) at 4° C. until processed for immunohistochemistry. Free-floating sections were washed in PBS and then incubated for 30 min in 0.2% Triton X-100 (Tx100) and 2% normal donkey serum (NDS). Slices were incubated overnight with primary antibody in 2% NDS (Mouse anti-CaMKIIa 1:500, Abcam, Cambridge, Mass.; Mouse anti-Parvalbumin 1:500, Sigma, St Louis, Mo.; Rabbit anti-GABA 1:500, Millipore, Billerica, Mass.; Chicken anti-GFAP 1:250, Millipore; Mouse anti-MAP2 1:500, Sigma). Sections were then washed with PBS and incubated for 2hr at RT with secondary antibodies (Donkey anti-Mouse conjugated to either Cy3 or FITC, donkey anti-Rabbit Cy5 and donkey-anti chicken Cy5, all 1:1000, Jackson Laboratories, West Grove, Pa.). Slices were then washed, incubated with DAPI (1:50,000) for 20 min, washed again, and mounted on slides with PVA-Dabco (Sigma). Confocal fluorescence images were acquired on a scanning laser microscope using a 20X/0.70NA or a 40X/1.25NA oil immersion objective.

In Vivo Optical Stimulation

20 Hz, 15 ms pulsewidth stimulation with 473 nm light was used for all fMRI and optrode recordings. 300 _(μ)an diameter optical fibers were used with the optical fiber output power level at approximately 6 mW. These power levels correspond to 85 mW mm⁻² at the fiber output, but more than 10-fold less over the majority of the excitation volume given the expected light scattering profile. Assuming 1 mW/mm² is the minimum light power needed to activate ChR2, the light penetration depth of direct light activation is expected to be ˜0.95 mm Optical stimulation power must be set with care in order to avoid potential BOLD signal confound due to heating; we have found that at higher laser power levels or with steady illumination, laser synchronized signal intensity change can be observed even in control animals; the BOLD sequence, which gives T₂*-weighting has been found to have no significant temperature dependence at lower temperatures, while high enough temperature causing tissue damage has been found to result in signal amplitude decrease. Therefore, it was decided to use ≤˜6 mW of laser power and maintained pulsed waveforms with 30% duty cycle.

Analysis of Electrophysiological Data

Threshold search in Clampfit was used for automated detection of spikes in multi-unit recording, which was then validated by visual inspection. For traces with multiple spike populations, thresholds were set to capture all the spikes; during bursting, it is likely that multiple neurons were recorded from simultaneously.

Optogenetic fMRI

Rodent subjects were connected to the optical fiber and ventilator (1.3% isoflurane), physiological monitoring systems and radio-frequency coil, and placed in the magnetic resonance-compatible stereotaxic frame. After subject placement in the scanner, blue (473 nm) light pulsed at 20 Hz (15 ms pulse width) was periodically applied through the optical fiber at 1 min intervals while repeated BOLD scans of large brain volumes were conducted.

fMRI scans were conducted with a small animal dedicated MRI scanner, custom designed pulse sequences, RF coils, and cradle. The small animal scanner consisted of a Magnex scientific superconducting magnet with 7.0 Tesla (T) field strength, RRI gradient with clear bore size of 9 cm, maximum gradient amplitude of 770 mT/m and maximum slew rate of 2500 T/m/s and a General Electric (GE) console and radiofrequency (RF) amplifiers with maximum RF amplitude of 24.7 μT. The animals were first anesthetized in a knockdown box with 4% isoflurane. After approximately 5 minutes in the knockdown box, the animal was intubated, placed on a custom-designed MRI-compatible cradle with a stereotaxic frame, and the tracheal tube connected to a ventilator (Harvard Apparatus, Model 683 Small Animal Ventilator) with 1.3-1.5% isoflurane, 35% 0₂, 65% N₂O input gas and a capnometer (SurgiVet V9004). A 3.5 cm diameter custom-designed transmit/receive single-loop surface coil was placed on the top of the target, and a 300 μm diameter optical fiber was then inserted through the guide. A fiber-optic rectal temperature probe was inserted and the cradle with the animal was inserted to the isocenter of the magnet. Expiratory CO2 content was continuously monitored by a capnometer. The ventilation volume and frequency (3.0-3.5 cc/stroke, 50-60 stroke/min) was controlled to keep the endtidal CO₂ level at ˜3.5% throughout the scan. Heated air was pumped into the bore to maintain animal's body temperature at physiological levels (34-38° C.).

fMRI scans were performed using conventional GRE-BOLD fMRI methods and passband b-SSFP fMRI4 methods. Passband bSSFP-fMRI was designed to be a 3D volumetric, b-SSFP sequence with stack-of-spirals readout trajectory. To get good slab selection for the passband bSSFP-fMRI scans, a time-bandwidth (TBW) of 12 pulse was designed with a duration of 1 ms. 10 interleave in-plane spirals with 32 stack locations, 9.372 ms TR, 2 ms TE resulted in 30 slices (2 slices discarded due to 3D slice direction excitation profile roll-off margin) and 1.5 cm slice direction volume coverage.

fMRI data was first reconstructed through a 2-dimensional (2D) and 3D gridding reconstruction methods. The reconstructed 4D magnitude image data was then analyzed by calculating the individual voxel coherence value (c), defined as the magnitude of the frequency component of interest (I F(f_(o)) I) divided by the sum-of-squares of all frequency components:

√{square root over (Σ_(f)|F(f)|²;)}F:

(Fourier transform of temporal signal intensity; f_(o): frequency of stimulation—here, 1/60 Hz). Therefore, the coherence value (c) is between 0 and 1. The coherence value was thresholded at 0.35, color coded and overlaid onto T₂ anatomical images:

$c = \frac{\left| {F\left( f_{0} \right)} \right|}{\sqrt{\left. \Sigma_{f} \middle| {F(f)} \right|^{2}}}$

Coherence values (c) can be converted to z- and p-values given the mean (m), variance (σ²) of the null-hypotheses distribution. The following formula can be used to calculate the corresponding z value given the c value, m, 94 , and N (sample size for estimation of m and σ).

$z = {\frac{1}{\sigma}\left( {\sqrt{\frac{c^{2}}{\left( {1 - c^{2}} \right)}\left( {{\left( {N - 1} \right)\sigma^{2}} + {Nm}^{2}} \right)} - m} \right)}$

The p-value can then be estimated with an assumption for the null-hypothesis. For example, in our study, coherence of 0.35 corresponds to z-value of approximately 4.6, which gives a p-value of approximately 0.000002 when Gaussian distribution is assumed. Therefore, the p-value threshold in all our experiments can be assumed to be less than 0.001. For most of the data, the thresholded coherence value was overlaid onto T₂ anatomical images to show “activated” voxels. However, for the PV::Cre stimulation result, since pixels with opposite phase with respect to stimulation were present, color-coded phase values of pixels with coherence level over 0.35 were displayed to show the distribution of positive and negative BOLD. The phase value (θ) was calculated as the phase of the frequency component of interest, resulting in phase values between 0 and 2π (0 corresponds to no delay with respect to stimulus, and π corresponds to the half cycle delay of 30 s in these experiments).

θ=<(F(f ₀))

Voxel-based frequency analysis was used as the method with fewest assumptions instead of model-based methods since the HRF of ofMRI was not known.

In Vivo Recording and Analysis

After ofMRI, simultaneous optical stimulation and electrical recording in living rodents was conducted using an optrode composed of an extracellular tungsten electrode (1MΩ, ˜125 μm ttached to an optical fiber (˜200 mm) with the tip of the electrode deeper than the tip of the fiber to ensure illumination of the recorded neurons.

Simultaneous optical stimulation and electrical recording in living rodents was conducted as described previously using an optrode composed of an extracellular tungsten electrode (1 MΩ, ˜125 μm) attached to an optical fiber (˜200 μm) with the tip of the electrode deeper (˜0.4 mm) than the tip of the fiber to ensure illumination of the recorded neurons. For stimulation and recording in two distinct regions (M1 and thalamus), small craniotomies were created above both target regions. The optical fiber was coupled to a 473 nm laser diode from CrystaLaser. Optrode recordings were conducted in rats anesthetized with 1.5% isoflurane. pClamp 10 and a Digidata 1322A board were used to both collect data and generate light pulses through the fiber. The recorded signal was bandpass filtered at 300 Hz low/5 kHz high (1800 Microelectrode AC Amplifier) and filtered in Clampfit to remove 60 Hz noise. For precise placement of the fiber/electrode pair, stereotactic instrumentation was used.

Results

In these experiments, the cortical virus injection site was also used as the optical stimulation site for BOLD and electrophysiological functional studies (FIG. 5, panel a). To minimize susceptibility artefact during MRI scanning, the implanted cannula, optical fibre and accessories were custom-fabricated from magnetic resonance-compatible materials. Confocal imaging (FIG. 5, panel b) and optrode recording (simultaneous optical stimulation and electrical recording) under 1.3-1.5% isoflurane anaesthesia' (FIG. 5, panel c) were conducted to validate the expression and functionality, respectively, of the ChR2-EYFP (enhanced yellow fluorescent protein) fusion under these conditions. In line with previous optogenetic studies”, 473 nm light pulses at 20 Hz (15 ms pulse width) delivered through the optical fibre were found to drive local neuronal firing reliably in vivo (FIG. 5, panel c).

To assess fMRI signals, we acquired 0.5 mm coronal slices centered on M1, >10 days after virus injection (FIG. 5, panel d). Intubated animals were placed on a custom-designed MRI-compatible cradle with a stereotaxic frame and ventilated with 1.3-1.5% isoflurane. A 3.5 cm- diameter custom-designed transmit/receive single-loop surface coil was opposed to the cranium and a long 300-μm diameter optical fibre inserted through the implanted cannula; in this configuration, the cradle with the animal was placed into the isocentre of the magnet while the laser diode itself was maintained outside the 5 Gauss perimeter. To minimize systemic physiological confounds, the ventilation volume, frequency, end-tidal CO₂ and rectal temperature levels were carefully maintained at narrow levels known to produce most robust and reproducible BOLD signals in anaesthetized animals (3.0-3.5 cm³ per stroke, 50-60 strokes per min, 3.5%, 34-38° C.). fMRI scans were performed at 7.0 Tesla (T) field strength using conventional gradient- echo (GRE)-BOLD fMRI and pass-band balanced steady-state free precession (b-SSFP)-fMRI. Both pulse sequences were designed to have 3.5×3.5 cm² in-plane field of view (FOV), 0.5×0.5×0.5 mm³ spatial resolution and 3 s temporal resolution. GRE-BOLD fMRI was designed to be a two-dimensional, multi-slice, gradient-echo sequence with four-interleave spiral readout; 750 ms repetition time (TR) and 12 ms echo time (TE) resulting in 23 slices covering 1.15 cm slice direction volume. This specific design allowed large-volume mapping of the brain during optogenetic control with high temporal resolution.

Light pulses at 20 Hz (473 nm, 15 ms pulse width) were delivered to targeted CaMK1lix-expressing principal neurons, and in response, robust optically-evoked BOLD signals were observed in cortical grey matter at the virus injection and optical stimulation site, whereas in control animals (injected with saline instead of opsin-AAV) no detectable BOLD signal could be elicited (FIG. 5). Stimulus- synchronized BOLD haemodynamic responses from activated Ml voxels are displayed in FIG. 5, panel d, and mean optogenetic fMRI haemodynamic response functions (ofMRI-HRF) in FIG. 4. Evoked BOLD was dominated by positive signals while driving these excitatory CaMKIIα-positive cells; in contrast, optically driving inhibitory parvalbumin-positive cells, which may have unique connectivity with local neuronal circuitry or vasculature, additionally gave rise to a zone of negative BOLD, consistent with the GABAergic phenotype, surrounding the local positive BOLD signal (See Supplementary FIG. 4 of “Global and local fMRI signals driven by neurons defined optogenetically by type and wiring,” Nature, Vol. 465, 10 June 2010, pp, 788-792). Strikingly, the BOLD dynamics observed by optically driving the defined CaMKIIα principal cell population embedded within the mixed M1 cell population precisely matched the dynamics of conventional stimulus-evoked BOLD-fMRI. In particular, the ofMRI-HRF signal onset occurred after 3 s but within 6 s of stimulus onset; likewise offset was reflected by a drop in BOLD signal contrast beginning within 6 s and returning to baseline in ˜20 s after optical stimulation (FIG. 4; upper panels: n=3, lower panels: n=8). Finally, the pronounced post-stimulus undershoot observed during systemic somatosensory stimulation in humans and animals was preserved in ofMRI-HRFs as well (FIG. 4). All of these dynamic properties derived from driving a defined, specific (See Supplementary FIG. 1a of “Global and local fMRI signals driven by neurons defined optogenetically by type and wiring,” Nature, Vol. 465, 10 June 2010, pp, 788-792) cell population correspond closely to previous measurements on conventional sensory-evoked BOLD.

To study macrocircuit properties of the brain using optogenetic fMRI, it will be important to assess feasibility of monitoring long- range activity in synaptically connected brain areas. MRI-compatible electrodes for local stimulation represent a major advance but in addition to driving all local excitatory, inhibitory and modulatory cell types, will also antidromically drive non-local cells that happen to have axons within the stimulated region, posing a challenge for functional mapping using BOLD. We therefore used high-resolution fMRI slices capturing thalamic nuclei (coronal slices shown in FIG. 6, panel a) to monitor downstream responses during optical stimulation of M1 cortical neurons. FIG. 6, panel b, illustrates the observed specific ChR2 expression in cortico-thalamic axonal projection fibers whereas thalamic cell bodies showed no ChR2 expression, as expected from the cortical injection protocol (See Supplementary FIG. 5 of “Global and local fMRI signals driven by neurons defined optogenetically by type and wiring,” Nature, Vol. 465, 10 June 2010, pp, 788-792). Local optical stimulation was then delivered to the cortex during fMRI, to determine if unidirectionally triggered BOLD responses could be observed and measured (this method eliminates the antidromic drive confound from which electrical stimulation suffers, thereby allowing true global causal connectivity mapping). FIG. 6, panels c and d, summarize the thalamic ofMRI-HRFs; robust thalamic BOLD signals in response to MI stimulation were observed, but with properties quite distinct from the intracortical CaMKIIα+response described above. A markedly reduced initial rise and slope for onset kinetics of positive-BOLD downstream thalamic recruitment was observed (FIG. 6, panel d, black traces; local cortical BOLD signals shown for comparison, grey traces; cortical BOLD activation is shown in FIG. 5).

Given the unusual kinetics, we sought to determine if this delayed thalamic BOLD response would be discrepant with local thalamic electrical activity, assessed with simultaneous optrode stimulating/recording in motor cortex and electrode recoding in thalamus (FIG. 6, panel e). However, a strikingly similar pattern was observed with direct recording in thalamus, including a commensurate delay in spike-rate increase for thalamic neurons compared to cortical neurons during cortical optogenetic drive (FIG. 6, panel f), further supporting the tight correspondence between positive BOLD and local neuronal excitation. Additional characterization showed that after this ˜5 s delay presumably related to network properties, successfully evoked spikes recorded in the thalamus reliably followed cortical spikes by several milliseconds, as expected (FIG. 6, panel g). Summary data on mean spike rates is presented in FIG. 6, panel h, and on spike rate dynamics in FIG. 6, panel i; further details on the pass-band bSSFP-fMRI method we developed for small animal imaging with more robust whole-brain mapping capability than traditional BOLD are presented in the Supplementary Material, particularly Supplementary FIG. 3, of “Global and local fMRI signals driven by neurons defined optogenetically by type and wiring,” Nature, Vol. 465, 10 June 2010, pp, 788-792.

Because true functional outputs of genetically defined neurons in a brain region can be globally mapped with ofMRI (FIG. 6), it is conceivable that additional levels of specificity could also be achieved. For example, M1 excitatory pyramidal neurons form a genetically and anatomically defined class of cell, but within this class are cells that each project to different areas of the brain or spinal cord and therefore have fundamentally distinct roles. Genetic tools may not advance far enough to separate all of these different cell classes, pointing to the need for other promoter-independent targeting methods. But ofMRI raises the current possibility of globally mapping the causal roles of these cells, accessing them by means of connection topology—that is, by the conformation of their functional projection patterns in the brain. We therefore sought to test this possibility by selectively driving the M1 CaMKIIα-expressing cells that project to the thalamus.

An optical fibre was stereotactically placed in the thalamus of animals that had received M1 cortical viral injections (FIG. 7, panel a); post hoc validation (FIG. 7, panel b) confirmed ChR2 expression in cortical neurons and in cortico-thalamic projection fibers. ChR2 readily triggers spikes in illuminated photosensitive axons that both drive local synaptic output and back-propagate throughout the axon to the soma of the stimulated cell; note that unlike the case with electrical stimulation, specificity is maintained for driving the targeted (photosensitive) axons, and therefore this configuration in principle allows ofMRI mapping during selective control of the M1 cortical cells that project to the thalamus. Indeed, robust BOLD signals were observed both locally in the thalamus (FIG. 7, panel c, coronal slices 7-12) and also in M1 (FIG. 7, panel d, coronal slices 1-6), consistent with the anticipated recruitment of the topologically targeted cells both locally and distally. These data demonstrate that ChR2-expressing axonal fibre stimulation alone is sufficient to elicit BOLD responses in remote areas, and illustrate the feasibility for in vivo mapping of the global impact of cells defined not only by anatomical location and genetic identity, but also by connection topology.

We further explored the global mapping capabilities of ofMRI. It has been suggested that thalamic projections to the motor cortex may be more likely than those to the sensory cortex, to involve both ipsilateral and contralateral pathways, because in many cases motor control and planning must involve bilateral coordination. This principle is challenging to assess at the functional level, because electrode-based stimulation will drive antidromic as well as orthodromic projections, and hence may mistakenly report robust cortico-thalamic rather than thalamocortical projections. We therefore sought to globally map functional connectivity arising from the initial drive of anterior or posterior thalamic nucleus projections, using ofMRI. After injecting CaMKIIα::ChR2 into the thalamus (FIG. 8), we found that optical stimulation of posterior thalamic nuclei resulted in a strong BOLD response, both at the site of stimulation as expected and in the posterior ipsilateral somatosensory cortex (S2) (FIG. 8, panels a-d). Optically stimulating excitatory cell bodies and fibres in the more anterior thalamic nuclei resulted in BOLD response at the site of stimulation and also significant ipsilateral and contralateral cortical BOLD responses (FIG. 8, panels e, f), consistent with the proposed bilaterality of anterior thalamocortical nuclei involvement in motor control and coordination Together, these results illustrate the power of optogenetic fMRI in shedding light on the controversial identification of positive BOLD signals with increased local neuronal excitation, providing an empirical underpinning for fMRI BOLD. We also find that the properties of integrated optogenetics and BOLD-fMRI (ofMRI) allow for global mapping of the causal connectivity of defined neurons in specific brain regions, fundamentally extending the capabilities of pharmacological or electrode-based methods (of course, contributions from additional cells and processes downstream of the defined optically-triggered population are expected and indeed represent an important aspect of this approach; it is, however, important to note that absence of a BOLD signal does not prove the absence of connectivity). Finally, we demonstrate that ofMRI allows causal connectivity mapping of cells defined not only genetically but also by circuit topology, or the conformation of their connections in vivo. Together, the ofMRI methods and findings reported here provide tools and approaches for further probing and defining the causal generation of BOLD signals; these results may accelerate the search for global circuit- disease endophenotypes, as well as the dynamical mapping and reverse engineering of intact neural circuitry.

The skilled artisan would understand that various steps and articles disclosed above for such embodiments can be used selectively to effect different but related embodiments.

While the present disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in further detail. It should be understood that the intention is not to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments and/or applications described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

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What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: modifying a target neural cell population in a first region of a brain to express light-responsive molecules; stimulating, using a light pulse, the light-responsive molecules in the target neural cell population; scanning multiple regions of the brain via magnetic resonance imaging to observe a neural reaction in response to the stimulation in at least one of the multiple regions of the brain and, in response, determine whether neural projections in a second region of the brain are connected to at least some of the modified target cell population in the first region of the brain.
 2. The method of claim 1, further including stimulating the light-responsive molecules at a first light pulse rate and a second light pulse rate.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first region of the brain is in the motor cortex.
 4. The method of claim 1, further including calibrating the stimulation of the light-responsive molecules to provide a response in the second region within a desired range of responses.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the observed neural reactions are used to determine a treatment plan for a disease effecting at least one of the first or second regions of the brain.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein a drug is introduced into the brain, the steps of stimulating the light-responsive molecules, and scanning multiple regions of the brain are repeated; and determining the effectiveness of drug based on a comparison of the observed neural reactions in the scan before the introduction of the drugs and the observed neural reactions in the scan after the introduction of the drug.
 7. The method of claim 1, further including modifying a second target neural population in the first region of the brain to express a second type of light-responsive molecule; stimulating the second type of light-responsive molecule in the second target neural population; scanning multiple regions of the brain via magnetic resonance imaging to observe a neural reaction in response to the stimulation of the second neural population in at least one of the multiple regions of the brain and determine therefrom whether neural paths in a second region of the brain are neutrally connected to at least some of the modified second target neural populations in the first region of the brain.
 8. The method of claim 2, wherein the results of the observation of first stimulation and the second stimulation are combined, and providing a functional map of the brain including at least the results of the first observation and the second observation.
 9. A method comprising: assessing fMRI scan results of an fMRI performed on neural cells stimulated in response to light; and inferring a relationship between the BOLD response depicted in the fMRI scan results and the neural cell stimulation.
 10. A method comprising: modifying a target neural cell population to express light-responsive molecules in a first region of a brain, the light-responsive molecules exciting the target cell population in response to light; stimulating the light-responsive molecules in the target neural cell population using light pulses; scanning at least the first region of the brain via magnetic resonance imaging; stimulating the target neural cell population using an electric pulse; performing fMRI scans and observing the BOLD signal response to excitation of the target cell population using electronic stimulation; and based at least in part on the BOLD signal responses in the target cell population due to light stimulation and electronic stimulation, assessing the BOLD fMRI scan. 